WWE Raw Results: Highlights, Analysis, and Grades for April 17
By Bryan Heaton
TJ Perkins vs. Gentleman Jack Gallagher
Result: TJ Perkins defeated Gentleman Jack Gallagher via pinfall
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Ah, nothing is going to get a crowd interested in a cruiserweight match like making the two guys in the ring literally the least important guys in the building.
#KingOfTheCruiserweights @WWENeville did NOT want company tonight... especially when the man joining him is #1Contender @AustinAries! #RAW pic.twitter.com/TJ2lZf19qZ
— WWE (@WWE) April 18, 2017
Perkins and Gallagher had a great match last week on 205 Live, so this week they get to do it again while everyone pays attention to Neville and Austin Aries at ringside. There has to be a better way to get the cruisers over than what is currently happening.
One thing I was curious about regarding Gallagher was his headbutt spot in the wake of the Shibata injury. Apparently, since the headbutt still happened, WWE has no problem with insane looking fake headbutts, despite a concussion lawsuit against them and a top New Japan star nearly killing himself doing (admittedly legit) headbutts.
Look out below whenever @GentlemanJackG climbs to the top rope with #WilliamIII in hand! #Raw #205Live @MegaTJP pic.twitter.com/TJL1uGQllz
— WWE (@WWE) April 18, 2017
The rest of the match was actually pretty good, right up to the finish. I get that Perkins is King Neville’s squire at this point, but it would have been nice to see Neville (and Aries) not get involved. First TJP tosses Gallagher into Aries, then Neville takes Austin out, and the referee has to pay attention to those two?
It was a good match with an odd finish. That seems to be the story of the night – finishes that don’t fit the rest of the match.